As party-goers celebrate the holidays with friends and family, everyone should heed Temecula Police Department’s warning to keep the party off the road or be ready to face the consequences. Law enforcement will be out in force beginning December 17th through the New Year’s weekend cracking down on anyone caught drunk or drugged behind the wheel.
The Temecula Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Driver's License checkpoint in partnership with the Avoid DUI Task Force Campaigns and law enforcement nationwide on January 2nd, 2011 at an undisclosed location within the city.
After hearing about the dangers of drinking and driving time after time, most people have gotten the message that if they’re planning on drinking, they should always plan a safe way home, but sadly, millions of Americans still think they are invincible and regularly choose to get behind the wheel after having too much to drink.
The Temecula Police Department reminds parents to take note that young males are at particularly high risk, with nearly one-quarter admitting to riding with someone in the past year who should not have been behind the wheel.
We know that the holiday season can be one of the deadliest and most dangerous times on America’s roadways due to an increase in drunk driving. Don’t let your 2010 end in an arrest or worse, injury or death. Remember, whether you’ve had way too many or just one too many, it’s not worth the risk!
During last year’s two and half week Winter Holiday campaign, 36 Californians were killed in crashes statewide with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher and another 1,168 were injured in alcohol involved wrecks. In Temecula, there were over 800 on-site DUI’s and 68 DUI collisions. In Riverside County, there were 10 killed with a BAC of .08 percent or higher and another 114 injured in alcohol-involved collisions.
Funding for this operation is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The Temecula Police Department recommends these simple tips for a safe holiday season:
Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin;
Before drinking, designate a sober driver;
If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation;
If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact your local law enforcement; And remember, Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk.
If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.
For more information on local and statewide Avoid DUI Task Force Campaign Enforcement Schedules and Daily DUI Arrest/Fatal Stats, visit the www.californiaavoid.org . The Program is funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety who reminds everyone to please – Report Drunk Driving – Call 9-1-1!
via :: Sheriff-Coroner :: Riverside County, California.
Type of Incident: DUI / Safety Checkpoint
Date/Time Written: December 28, 2010 at 1:00 p.m.
Date/Time of Incident: January 2, 2011
Location of Incident:
Temecula
Reporting Officer: Sergeant Mark Leggett, (951)696-3042
File Number(s): N/A
That Holiday Cheer Can Go the Wrong Way On Our Roads
Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest
